Sir, - It is absolutely crazy that nothing is being done to avert the millions of pounds of environmental damage caused by household use of phosphate-based detergents. The Government should look to the strong action taken by Mary Harney, TD, when she faced down vested interests and banned smoky coal. The resultant health benefits were immense.
The relentless deterioration in the quality of our fresh water and drinking water demands an equally courageous action on the part of the current Minister, Dan Wallace, TD. I believe he should take that action by banning all phosphate-based household detergents immediately.
There are many alternative phosphate-free products available on the market now, many of which are manufactured in Ireland.
Our quality of life and the development of our food and tourism industries depend on the standard of our water and unless the current problems are addressed soon, we will end up with a very successful country which is too dirty to live in.
The poor standard of our drinking water is a serious public health issue which needs strong political action. Ireland will continue to suffer a sharp decline in water quality unless the Government bans the use of phosphate-based detergents immediately. - Yours, etc., Senator Mairin Quill,
Seanad Eireann, Dublin 2.